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Fried rice is a popular component of
Asian cuisine. It originated as a home
dish from China around 4000 BC,
generally made from cold leftover rice
fried with other leftover ingredients.
Later it became a more elaborate dish,
made from fresh ingredients, and often
served as the penultimate dish in
Chinese banquets (just before dessert).
There are dozens of varieties of fried
rice, each with their own specific list
of ingredients. In Asia, the more famous
varieties include Yangzhou and Fujian
fried rice. In the West, Asian
restaurants catering to non-Asian
clientele have invented their own
varieties of fried rice including egg
fried rice, Singaporean (spicy) fried
rice (which is actually not generally
available in Singapore) and the
ubiquitous 'special fried rice'.
Ingredients used in fried rice are very
varied. They include vegetables such as
carrots, bean sprouts, celery, peas, and
others, as well as meats such as
chicken, pork, shrimp or spam, or
possibly alternatives like tofu. Often
cooked in a wok, it includes vegetable
oil or animal fat to prevent sticking,
as well as for flavor. Bits of egg
provide color in many dishes. Chilli or
chilli sauces often add a piquant touch
to this dish or are offered in a small
dish separate to the rice. Many cooks
season the fried rice with black pepper.
Soy sauce gives fried rice its brown
color and salty taste. Often, onions and
garlic add complexity and extra flavor.
It is popularly eaten either as an
accompaniment to another dish or,
alternatively on its own as a course by
itself.
Popular garnishes include fried
shallots, sprigs of parsley, carrots
carved into intricate shapes or sliced
chilli sprinkled on top of the heaped
rice. Many foodstands found on the
streets across Southeast Asia will serve
fried rice on the spot expecting the
customer to choose which garnishes to
add.
Here
are some fried rice recipes you can
easily cook:
Beef Fried Rice
Fried Rice
Shrimp Fried Rice
Sun Ya Fried Rice
More delicious Chinese recipes are available in Nicholas Zhou's cookbook
"Real & Healthy
Chinese Cooking".
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